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11-29-2008, 09:41 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Omaha Nebraska | | | Vienna strings Hamburg HANDCRAFT info
Im looking at buying, well I am buying... a Vienna strings Hamburg HANDCRAFT bass. I have searched this site and found nothing on it.
Here it is: http://www.viennastringsusa.com/prod...hamburghc.html
looks beautiful, and has a nice bow and case. But I know nothing of this, what are your feelings on this bass? Is it worth $2,300
Oh and people say they hate jim laabs service, but I think they are great! Super nice, Fast, and friendly people who love to have a conversation with you! Great store, but somehow gets a lot of BS from people.
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11-30-2008, 09:41 AM
|  | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | | Wait-- you've made your decision, don't yet have the bass, and now want to know what folks think?
Just looked at the Jim Laabs site-- the Hamburg is listed at $1277 and said to be fully-carved. It also doesn't seem to match the pictures on the link you included. A priori, buying a very low-end "fully-carved" bass from an instrument superstore is risky business. It rarely yields the best value for your dollar. I sincerely hope your experience is otherwise.
Last edited by drurb : 11-30-2008 at 09:47 AM.
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11-30-2008, 09:53 AM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Omaha Nebraska | | | No no no no. The basses on ebay are a lot different. And the HAMBURG is their cheap bass, this is the HAMBURG Hadncraft, and is their top bass, and is only $2300 fully carved. there is one on ebay, but its a low end version on the one on the website. Im getting the one from the link above.
And this is a known store, and my bass teacher says the instruments are quality for their price. |
11-30-2008, 09:59 AM
| | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Tuomiko  No no no no. The basses on ebay are a lot different. And the HAMBURG is their cheap bass, this is the HAMBURG Hadncraft, and is their top bass, and is only $2300 fully carved. there is one on ebay, but its a low end version on the one on the website. Im getting the one from the link above.
And this is a known store, and my bass teacher says the instruments are quality for their price. | ebay? I didn't look on ebay. I went to the Jim Laabs site but I now understand that you're not buying it from Jim Laabs at all. So, I'll go back to a version of my original question. You are buying the bass, you are happy with the dealer, and your teacher approves the choice. What can we offer? Some here may say it's a fine choice. Others (such as myself) would not make that choice at all. What matters is what makes you happy and it seems that's been determined. Go in peace and enjoy! Edit-- Search within this forum for "Hamburg." There's a bunch of info on these basses.
Last edited by drurb : 11-30-2008 at 10:10 AM.
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11-30-2008, 10:20 AM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Omaha Nebraska | | | Yes thats true on what you say, but just looking for an opinion
Oh and there really is no info on this bass here. Just info on the lower model Hamburg. Doesnt help much. |
11-30-2008, 10:50 AM
| | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Tuomiko Yes thats true on what you say, but just looking for an opinion
Oh and there really is no info on this bass here. Just info on the lower model Hamburg. Doesnt help much. | With regard to the brand, I think the info available via the searches helps a great deal. What is actually the difference between the model you're discussing and the lower one beyond aesthetics? The "Handcrafted" has hand-applied spirit varnish, prettier wood, a nicer inlay, and violin corners. There's no evidence that, for example, more attention is paid to graduating the top and/or back. At the price-point you're considering, it's not clear that much of that would be done at all. The general information offered in previous threads would seem to apply.
By the way, have you played this bass?
Last edited by drurb : 11-30-2008 at 10:55 AM.
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11-30-2008, 11:53 AM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Omaha Nebraska | | | The lower model is in fact not carved. the handcraft is. and yes it has more sightful accents.
And it comes with a $400 hard case and a nice bow. He said he will give me a stand too |
11-30-2008, 11:57 AM
| | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Tuomiko The lower model is in fact not carved. the handcraft is. and yes it has more sightful accents. | Curious-- the Vienna web site calls the lower model a "solid carved bass." It's important to recognize what "carved" means at this price-point.
Last edited by drurb : 11-30-2008 at 12:01 PM.
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11-30-2008, 12:17 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Tuomiko The lower model is in fact not carved. the handcraft is. and yes it has more sightful accents.
And it comes with a $400 hard case and a nice bow. He said he will give me a stand too | So, you're getting a stand, a $400 case and a bow with a fully carved bass for $2300.00. I'd be very skeptical about the quality of the bass at that price. |
11-30-2008, 05:19 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Omaha Nebraska | | well i have no way of telling. Oh well...  |
11-30-2008, 05:30 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Tuomiko well i have no way of telling. Oh well... | Then don't do the deal!  |
11-30-2008, 05:40 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada | | | It's a pretty simple concept. You don't spend that amount of money without knowing exactly what you're buying. It just doesn't make sense!
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11-30-2008, 05:55 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Omaha Nebraska | | | i sort of know what im doing. I do know some about the company, and that they do make a decent bass. And that this is their highest one, and what Ive heard about the basses is from the lower model, so it couldnt be any worse. |
11-30-2008, 06:26 PM
| | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Tuomiko i sort of know what im doing. | Personally, I need a whole bunch more confidence before I drop thousands of $$$ on anything-- much less my closest musical companion-- but that's just me. I asked before if you have played the exact bass you will be buying or, at least, the same model.
It's difficult to know how to helpfully respond to posts that say, "This is what I'm buying, I've made up my mind. What do you think?" The best I can figure is that people who post such things are fishing for reinforcement. Well, I think it's fair to say that most of us who've been around the block a few times wouldn't advise that you do what you're planning to do. As I said before, in the end, what you think matters. If you're happy going that route and your teacher approves, then write the check and enjoy. Then again, if you're not at ease with the decision... |
11-30-2008, 06:30 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Maui | | | Geez, man, just buy a bass already. |
11-30-2008, 07:06 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Omaha Nebraska | | | Drub sorry I sound confusing, I meant that this is the top bass in my priority, And in Omaha, there are $500 basses, then $15,000 basses and nothing in between so its hard to find something I want.
Thanks Marcus, just trying to find something good.. |
11-30-2008, 07:20 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Maui | | | I know it's hard, dude. I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific, so it's a little similar to your situation. I had to take a leap of faith and buy an NS La Scala over the web. It worked out insanely well for me.... but it's not the ideal way to shop for a double bass.
I hope you can find a way to get to a place where there are lots of basses to try. Gas is cheaper now... maybe you should save some bucks and do a road trip. |
11-30-2008, 07:22 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wellington, New Zealand | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Tuomiko just trying to find something good.. | Advice*:If you can't play the bass before you buy, go with an established maker like Shen, Christopher or the New Standard basses. That way you have a better chance of getting something good, or fixing it if something isn't right.
*Note: I'm assuming you'll ignore this advice Brandon, but other new bass buyers might find it helpful. |
11-30-2008, 07:27 PM
|  | Registered User
Maker of HPF-Pre upright bass preamp | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Madison WI | | | How far is KC Strings?
By the way, I empathize with the fact that nobody is making your job any easier here. |
11-30-2008, 07:34 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Maui | | Quote:
Originally Posted by fdeck nobody is making your job any easier here. | Based on what? |  | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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